US20110204828A1 - Light assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A light assembly is provided with a housing with a first locking configuration. A light source is provided on the housing. A power source is provided on the housing for powering the light source. An interchangeable exterior shroud is sized to receive the housing and has a second locking configuration for locking the shroud to the housing such that the shroud provides an ornamental appearance of an exterior of a wax candle, and the light source provides an appearance of a flame.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 61/288,407 filed Dec. 21, 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• Various embodiments relate to light assemblies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is an axial section view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a bottom end view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective section view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bottom of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 11 is an end view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 12 is another side elevation view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled;
• FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a housing of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of an end of a shroud of the light assembly ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a base of the housing of the light assembly ofFIG. 1, illustrated partially disassembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
• Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, a light assembly is illustrated and referenced generally bynumeral20. Thelight assembly20 is depicted as an artificial or flameless candle. Flameless candles can simulate the many attributes of traditional burning candles, such as home decor, and can provide a source of illumination. One key attribute of conventional candles is fragrance dispersion. Many flameless candles are fabricated with candle wax shells. However, unlike a traditional candle that releases a fragrance due to the chemical operation provided by the flame at the wick, which burns the candle wax, a flameless candle has no mechanism of releasing any additional fragrance than that which is already exposed to the ambient environment from the surface of the candle shell, without an additional fragrance dispersion mechanism. While a flameless candle with a fragrant candle wax may initially provide an adequate fragrance, the scent will decay over time until the candle is functionally scentless. Further, both traditional candles and flameless candles are limited to the original shape, color, fragrance, or the like, of the original design.
• Thelight assembly20 includes an interchangeableexterior shroud22, which is shaped to provide the ornamental appearance of an exterior of a wax candle and it conceals the remaining components of thelight assembly20, except for alens24. Thelens24 is generally tapered and is sized, shaped, and colored to provide an appearance of a flame upon a wick of a conventional wax candle. Theshroud22 that is depicted is only one example, and due to the interchangeability of theshroud22, theshroud22 may embody a variety of shapes, colors, fragrances, or the like.
• Referring now toFIGS. 4-7, thelight assembly20 is illustrated in greater detail. Thelight assembly20 includes ahousing26. Thehousing26 is generally frusto-conical in the depicted embodiment and is hollow for retaining components therein. Thelens24 extends from a closed end of thehousing26. Apower source28 is provided in thehousing26, which may be a pair ofbatteries28 as depicted. Althoughbatteries28 are illustrated, the invention contemplates any power source, such as an electrical plug for receiving alternating current. Alight source30 may also be provided in the housing. Thelight source30 may be any suitable light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED). Alight pipe32 may be utilized to convey light from thelight source30 into thelens24. Although oneLED30 is depicted, the invention contemplates any number, or variation of lighting sources.
• Referring specifically toFIG. 7, thehousing26 includes abase34 with abattery compartment36 recessed therein for receiving thebatteries28. Referring again toFIGS. 4-7, adoor38 may be provided over thebattery compartment36 for concealing and retaining thebatteries28 in thebattery compartment36.
• Theshroud22 includes aninternal shell40 for mating with thehousing26. Theshroud22 also includes an externalfragrant layer42 that is formed about theshell40, such as in a molding operation. Although separate layers are illustrated and described for the shell andfragrant layer42, the invention contemplates that these components may be formed integrally for reducing parts. Theshell40 and thefragrant layer42 includeapertures44,46 for permitting thelens24 and thelight pipe32 to extend therethrough for conveying the light within anupper cavity48 and thefragrant layer42.
• Due to the volatile characteristic of fragrance, the fragrance of thefragrant layer42 decays over time. Thus, when the period of decay of the fragrance of thefragrant layer42 has expired, theshroud22 may be disconnected from thehousing26 and replaced with anew shroud22. Thefragrant layer42 of theshroud22 may be constructed of paraffin wax, plastic, or the like. Additionally, thefragrant layer42 of theshroud22 may be constructed in a variety of shapes to permit the user to provide variousdecorative light assemblies20. For example, theshroud22 can be altered to match the home decor requirements of the user as needed, such as a traditional wax candle. Further, thelight assembly20 may employinterchangeable shrouds22 for various decorative seasons, such as a snowman for winter, a jack-o-lantern at Halloween, or the like. Additionally,interchangeable shrouds22 may be employed of varying fragrances so that the user may alter the fragrance as desired. The altered fragrance may also be seasonal, such as a pine-scented Christmas tree shapedshroud22.
• FIG. 8 illustrates thelight assembly20 with thefragrant layer42 removed from theinternal shell40.FIGS. 9-12 depict thelight assembly20 without theshroud22. Thehousing26 includes a first locking configuration, such as a pair ofbayonet lugs50 extending radially outward from a lower periphery of thehousing26. One of the pair ofbayonet lugs50 is illustrated in enlarged detail inFIG. 14. The pair ofbayonet lugs50 are sized to be received in a corresponding pair ofslots52 provided in theshell40 of theshroud22 as illustrated inFIG. 15. Theslots52 include anopening54 facing an outward axial direction of theshell40 for receiving the bayonet lugs50. Theslots52 extend circumferentially inward so that the bayonet lugs50 can pass through theopening54 and then, upon rotation of theshroud22 relative to thehousing26, the bayonet lugs50 are received at a region of theslots52 offset from theopenings54 for retaining theshroud22 upon thehousing26.
• Referring again toFIG. 14, the bayonet lugs50 may each include aprojection56 for being received in a corresponding recess58 (FIG. 15) within theslot52 for locking theshroud22 in a secure rotary position relative to thehousing26 to provide a secured and assembledlight assembly20. Alternatively, adetent mechanism56 may be provided for retracting into thebayonet lug50 during travel within theslot52 and extending into therecess58. Referring again toFIG. 7, thebase34 may include a pair offinger wells60 for permitting a user to grip thebase34 for rotating thehousing26 relative to theshroud22.
• Although a pair of bayonet lugs50 and a pair ofcorresponding slots52 are illustrated and described, the invention contemplates any number oflugs50 andslots52. Thelugs50 andslots52 are illustrated as an example of a pair of corresponding locking configurations. Of course, any locking configuration is contemplated, such as a threaded engagement, a press fit engagement, or the like.
• Also illustrated inFIG. 7, is aswitch62, which is hidden when the light assembly is resting upon thebase34. Theswitch62 permits the user to turn the light assembly off, on, or to a timed period, which may be predetermined or user selected. Alternatively, theshroud22 may include a capacitive touch sensor in electrical communication with thehousing26 so that thelight assembly20 may be turned on or off by an external touching by the user to the exterior of theshroud22.
• Referring again toFIG. 14, theprojection56 may be a detent that actuates aswitch64 within thehousing26. Theswitch64 is in electrical communication with a controller66 (FIG. 7) in thehousing26. Actuation of theswitch64 occurs during assembly of anew shroud22 upon thehousing26. The actuatedswitch64 sends a signal to thecontroller66 for informing thecontroller66 that anew shroud22 has been assembled to thehousing26. Accordingly, thecontroller66 begins a countdown with a timer for a predetermined amount of time that corresponds to a period of decay of the fragrance of theshroud22. Upon completion of the countdown by the timer, thecontroller66, which also controls the lighting from thelight source30, provides a display for thelight source30 for indicating to the user that the period of fragrance of theshroud22 is expired. The display may be provided by blinking thelight source30, or the like, for indicating that the fragrance has dissipated. Accordingly, the user may be warned, or reminded, to replace theshroud22.
• FIG. 16 illustrates the base34 partially disassembled without thehousing26 for illustrating aswitch assembly68 according to another embodiment. Theswitch assembly68 is mounted to an inboard side of thebase34 and is oriented with thehousing26. Theswitch assembly68 includes a pair of linear slide bars70,72 mounted to the base and constrained for sliding linearly inboard and outboard. Each of slide bars70,72 includes aproximal end74,76 that terminate spaced apart from one another. Acoil spring78 is oriented between the proximal ends74,76 of the slide bars70,72 to extenddistal ends80,82 of the slide bars70,72 outboard in an unloaded, or disassembled condition. The distal ends80,82 of the slide bars70,72 extend through apertures (not shown) in thehousing26 to extend to positions that intersects with an inner diameter of theinternal shell40. Additionally, each of the distal ends80,82 of the slide bars70,72 include atapered surface84,86.
• During assembly of thehousing26 into theshroud22, the tapered surfaces84,86 of the slide bars70,72 contact an inner diameter of theinternal shell40 of theshroud22. As thehousing26 is inserted into theshroud22, the tapered surfaces84,86 cause the distal ends80,82 of the slide bars70,72 to slide inboard, thereby retracting the distal ends80,82 of the slide bars70,72 relative to thehousing26. Theproximal end74 of one of the slide bars70 is connected to acontact88 of theswitch assembly68. As theslide bar70 is retracted, thecontact88 is flexed into electrical engagement with anothercontact90 of theswitch assembly68. The engagement of the pair ofcontacts88,90 closes theswitch68, thereby indicating to thecontroller66 that the circuit is closed, and that theshroud22 has been assembled to thehousing26. This signal permits thecontroller66 to begin the timer associated with the period of decay of the fragrance of theshroud22. Upon disassembly of theshroud22 from thehousing26, the slide bars70,72 extend thereby disengaging the flexedcontact88 from theother contact90, which reopens theswitch68. Likewise, once anothershroud22 is assembled to thehousing26, theswitch68 is closed again, indicating the addition of anew shroud22.
• At least one embodiment provides a light assembly comprising: a housing having a first locking configuration; a light source provided on the housing; a power source provided on the housing for powering the light source; and an interchangeable exterior shroud being sized to receive the housing, the shroud having a second locking configuration for engaging the first locking configuration for locking the shroud to the housing such that the shroud provides an ornamental appearance of an exterior of a wax candle, and the light source provides an appearance of a flame.
• At least one further embodiment provides the shroud with a decayable fragrance.
• At least an even further embodiment further comprises: a switch on the housing for cooperating with the shroud for conveying a signal that a shroud has been locked to the housing; and a controller in the housing in electrical communication with the switch and the light source for receiving the signal from the switch, beginning a timer for a predetermined amount of time corresponding to a period of decay of the fragrance, and controlling the light source to provide a display to indicate that the fragrance has decayed.
• While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A light assembly comprising:

a housing having a first locking configuration;

a light source provided on the housing;

a power source provided on the housing for powering the light source; and

an interchangeable exterior shroud being sized to receive the housing, the shroud having a second locking configuration for engaging the first locking configuration for locking the shroud to the housing such that the shroud provides an ornamental appearance of an exterior of a wax candle, and the light source provides an appearance of a flame.

2. The light assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the shroud is provided with a decayable fragrance.

3. The light assembly ofclaim 2 further comprising a switch on the housing for cooperating with the shroud for conveying a signal that a shroud has been locked to the housing.

4. The light assembly ofclaim 3 further comprising a controller in the housing in electrical communication with the switch and the light source for receiving the signal from the switch, beginning a timer for a predetermined amount of time corresponding to a period of decay of the fragrance, and controlling the light source to provide a display to indicate that the fragrance has decayed.

5. The light assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the switch comprises:

a pair of linear slide bars mounted to the housing;

a biasing member for extending the slide bars; and

a pair of electrical contacts provided on proximal ends of each of the pair of slide bars such that assembly of the housing into the shroud retracts the slide bars and closes the pair of electrical contacts.

6. The light assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising a lens extending from the housing through an aperture in the shroud, the lens cooperating with the light source for conveying light from the light source and through the shroud.

7. The light assembly ofclaim 6 wherein the lens is tapered.

8. The light assembly ofclaim 6 wherein the lens is hollow; and

wherein the light assembly further comprises a light pipe extending from the light source and within the lens for conveying the light through the lens.

9. The light assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The light assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the exterior shroud comprises an internal shell and an external fragrant layer.

11. The light assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the external fragrant layer comprises wax.

12. The light assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the second locking configuration is provided on the internal shell.

13. The light assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the first locking configuration comprises at least one bayonet lug.

14. The light assembly ofclaim 13 wherein the second locking configuration comprises at least one slot.

15. The light assembly ofclaim 14 further comprising a projection provided on the at least one bayonet lug.

16. The light assembly ofclaim 15 wherein a recess is formed in the slot for receiving the projection for securing a rotary position of the shroud relative to the housing.

17. The light assembly ofclaim 16 further comprising a detent provided on the at least one bayonet lug for retracting the projection during assembly, and extending the projection into recess.

18. The light assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the housing comprises a base with a pair of finger wells formed therein for permitting a user to grip the base and rotate the housing relative to the shroud.

19. A light assembly comprising:

a housing having a first locking configuration;

a light source provided on the housing;

a power source provided on the housing for powering the light source; and

an interchangeable exterior shroud being sized to receive the housing, the shroud having a second locking configuration for engaging the first locking configuration for locking the shroud to the housing, the shroud being provided with a decayable fragrance.

20. A light assembly comprising:

a housing;

a light source provided on the housing;

a power source provided on the housing for powering the light source;

an interchangeable exterior shroud being sized to receive the housing, the shroud being provided with a decayable fragrance;

a switch on the housing for cooperating with the shroud for conveying a signal that a shroud has been assembled to the housing; and

a controller in the housing in electrical communication with the switch and the light source for receiving the signal from the switch, beginning a timer for a predetermined amount of time corresponding to a period of decay of the fragrance, and controlling the light source to provide a display to indicate that the fragrance has decayed.

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